Overview

Built with Rust and Ratatui, FileManagerTUI puts a file tree beside a live preview. Vim-style or arrow-key navigation, directory filtering, and a Ctrl+P fuzzy finder make it a practical choice for moving around project files without leaving the terminal. The range of tools gathered in one interface is its main appeal, though users seeking a conventional desktop file manager should look elsewhere.

Key features

Browse and manage local files

The dual-pane layout keeps navigation and file context visible together. Previews support syntax highlighting and Jupyter notebook cells; files beyond a configurable size threshold switch to a head-and-tail view. That approach is useful for inspecting large files, but it is not a substitute for a complete preview.

FileManagerTUI supports creating, renaming, deleting, copying, cutting, pasting, and undoing file operations. The Ctrl+P fuzzy finder searches project files and opens an action menu, while inline directory filtering offers another way to narrow a listing. These controls reward keyboard-led habits and keep common file tasks close at hand.

Edit and work in the terminal

The inline editor includes syntax highlighting, undo and redo, search and replacement, auto-indent, text selection, and mouse cursor positioning. An integrated PTY shell panel with VT100 emulation lets users bring shell work into the same application. This combination suits developers who want to inspect, change, and act on files without switching tools; it is less compelling if editing and shell sessions are already well served by a preferred editor and terminal.

Configuration and S3 access

Layered TOML configuration, command-line overrides, file watching, and built-in Catppuccin Mocha and Latte themes with custom colors offer useful room to adapt the interface. S3 mode can browse buckets through the AWS CLI, but it cannot create, rename, delete, or paste objects. It also requires the AWS CLI and valid AWS credentials, so teams needing remote writes should not choose it for that job.

Pricing

FileManagerTUI is free and open source under the MIT License. The software costs 0.00 USD per free, and the license permits use, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and resale; it comes without warranty or liability. There are no paid tiers to weigh against the free offering.

Platforms

Linux, macOS, and Windows are supported, with binaries listed for Linux x86_64, Linux .deb, Linux AppImage, macOS Intel, macOS Apple Silicon, and Windows. Source installation is available through Cargo from the Git repository; building from source requires a Rust toolchain. This gives users a choice between platform-specific downloads and a source build.

Who it's for

FileManagerTUI is best suited to developers and other terminal users who want a keyboard-driven way to browse and manage local files, preview code or notebooks, make edits, and access a shell in one place. Teams with existing editor workflows may find its all-in-one approach redundant, and anyone who needs S3 write operations will need another tool for those tasks.

Pros and cons

Pros: Browsing, file operations, previews, an inline editor, and an embedded shell are available in one interface, which can reduce context switching for terminal-centered work.
Pros: Linux, macOS, and Windows support gives it a broad fit across developer environments.
Pros: MIT licensing allows modification and redistribution, useful for teams that want to adapt or share the software.
Cons: S3 access is read-only and depends on the AWS CLI and valid credentials, limiting its value for remote file management.
Cons: Source builds require Rust, adding a toolchain requirement for users who do not use the provided binaries.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Terminal File Managers. Consider Newt if you want a free, open-source option that supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Rat Commander is another free cross-platform choice, with no paid tiers or usage limits stated.

pointer may suit Linux or macOS users looking for a single-binary public-domain option. superfile is a free, MIT-licensed self-installed terminal application for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Broot is also free and MIT-licensed, with source and precompiled binaries available across those platforms.

far2l is a free Linux and macOS alternative distributed under GNU/GPLv2, but its beta status and use-at-your-own-risk warning matter. Zeta is a free MIT-licensed option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with Linux and Windows binaries. cfiles is another free option for Linux and macOS.

Verdict

Choose FileManagerTUI if you want one free, cross-platform terminal interface for local file management, previews, editing, and shell access. Its breadth and MIT license make it a credible fit for keyboard-oriented developer workflows. Look elsewhere if S3 writes are essential or if you prefer to keep file management, editing, and terminal work in separate tools.

	cfiles	FileManagerTUI
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	Free
Open source	No	Yes
Platforms	Linux, macOS	Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Linux support	Yes	Yes
macOS support	Yes	Yes
Preview pane	Yes	Yes
Dual-pane layout	—	Yes
Windows support	—	Yes
Remote file access	—	Yes

cfiles vs FileManagerTUI

cfiles

FileManagerTUI